A Break for Cherry Blossoms

The cherry blossoms peaked this week in Tokyo, and they were so pretty, I actually found myself taking a detour through a sakura-lined street on my walk to work the other day. This is Oedo Fukagawa, which connects to Sumida River.

As my mother says, often you only become aware of a place once the cherry blossoms start blooming. True to word, this street was only a block past where I usually walk, but I'd never even noticed that there was a river nearby until I saw the burst of pale pink.

Happy people enjoying a cherry-viewing boat ride on a Monday morning.

At their peak, the trees for a sort of canopy over your head as you walk.

This is alongside Sumida River.

You can't see it to well, but the paths all along the river are dotted with sakura trees.

About Anchialine Ponds

Another Big Island favorite: the anchialine fish ponds near the Anaehoomalu Beach Park in Waikoloa. These fish ponds have been excavated from lava. Plants and animals migrate here from below ground, from nearby natural pools. The ponds are managed by the University of Hawaii, and more will be re-created to replace what was destroyed in building the Waikoloa Beach Resort.

Unlike the other fish ponds I've seen, the ponds here are compact, with water so clear, you can see all the activity that goes on under the surface.

These flowers bloom underwater, and when they die, they make their way onto the surface. Beautiful.

I found a tiny hatched egg.

Dead white trees.

Tiny red shrimp called 'Opae'ula, which are indigenous to Hawaii and can only be found in these ponds. They get eaten by larger clear glass shrimp called Opae huna, which are also native to the area.

An ibis patiently stalking its future food.

Boat Ride around Lake Annecy

You can take boat rides around Lake Annecy, starting at around 15 euros for an hour. It's a great way to see the more exclusive areas surrounding the lake.

The Imperial hotel and casino, and beach.

A nice house around Sevrier.

A group of young people, simply chilling in the middle of the lake. This was around 8:30 pm.

The area of Duingt. This is the château de Château vieux or château de Ruphy, a fortress that was built in the Middle Ages. Quite understandably, it has been registered as a historical monument. It used to be located on its own island, but was moved to this location to allow for car access.  

I'd never seen an actual turret before.

Col de la forclaz (I think) in Switzerland.

A church most likely.

I wish I knew all the names of the beautiful places I saw. I tried matching them up on a map, but it was surprisingly impossible.

You'd think an isolated little building like this would be easy to find on a map.

Les Dents de lanton. Look at that small building in the foreground! This is also an area for sky parachuting.

L'Auberge du Père Bise, an inn and restaurant located in the Talloires that has been around for over a century.

Parc Charles Bosson

Parc Charles Bosson in Annecy, which wraps around the Imperial building and overlooks Lake Annecy.

The chairs have been supplied by Canal+ for the festival, but these are obviously civilians.

I'd never noticed this chessboard before.

Boat docking area.

Toyama Castle Park

Matsukawa River, around a ten-minute walk from Toyama Station.

It was rainy the day I went, but the best time to visit would have been early April anyway, when the cherry blossoms bloom.

 

Toyama Castle, which I did not enter. It's said to have been built in the mid-16th century. The area surrounding the castle is Toyama Castle Park, and includes a library and small art museum.

 

It may take a bit longer than Tokyo for the cherry blossoms to bloom, but it seems there is no such delay for wisteria. In fact, during this time of the year, there doesn't seem to be much difference in temperature between Toyama and Tokyo.

 

Riverside Blossoms

Along Sumida River last week.

 

Despite how it may appear in this photo, dozens of people were out enjoying the cherry blossoms. The men in suits looked rather incongruous, but how could anyone deny them the pleasure?

For some reasons, the seagulls were all lined up in a row. I don't usually see so much of them.

  

Cherry blossoms and shiba dogs: the best of Japan.